Arsenal: Barca want Fabregas

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has confirmed that Barcelona have expressed their interest in Cesc Fabregas.

Fabregas, 24, has long been linked with a move back to the club of his youth after a number of disappointing years with the Gunners.

Rumours of his discontentment at the Emirates were rife prior to the 2010-11 season and only grew louder as Arsenal again failed to capture a trophy under Arsene Wenger.

Barca had a 40-million-pound bid for Fabregas rejected prior to last season, and have since claimed they were out of the race for the Spaniard’s signature due to the need to reduce some of their considerable debt.

But that has not stopped the Catalan giants from enquiring about Fabregas, according to the Gunners’ chairman.

“Yes, they have spoken to us about Cesc,” Hill-Wood told English daily The Mirror.

“They have been in touch. But so far they have not made a bid and we do not want to let him go.”

“But he comes from Barcelona so it is understandable if he wanted to go back. However, they have not made an offer so far.”

A separate report has linked Barca with an audacious 91-million-pound triple swoop for Fabregas, Udinese talisman Alexis Sanchez and Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi.

Barca boss Pep Guardiola has been held to a 45m transfer kitty to add reinforcements, but is reportedly prepared to sell David Villa for as much as 40 million pounds to help fund the deals.

Chelsea and Manchester City are among those rumoured to be interested in Villa, who shone for Barca in his first season since moving from Valencia.